WPSL Wrap Up: Week 5
Wednesday
Joy Athletic Club 0-3 Minnesota Thunder
Yet again, it took an hour before the visitors broke through. Still, a right-wing corner was skillfully flicked in at the near post by North Dakota State Bison Kendall Stadden. The second goal came only two minutes later as Minnesota Golden Gopher Paige Kalal tapped home after Concordia St. Paul’s Sydney Potter parried a pile driver in the Joy goal. Kalal got a second five minutes later, blasting the ball past Potter from the top of the box after the Goats had repelled a spell of more intricate play.
Saturday
Minnesota Dutch Lions FC 1-1 Mankato United Soccer Club
Two stoppage time goals accounted for all the offense. Mankato United opened the scoring in the third minute of first half stoppage, through North Dakota State’s Robyn Moody but their hard-fought win would be canceled out by a Dutch Lion equalizer in the third minute of second half stoppage, Idaho State Bengal Natalia Coury continuing a scarcely believable number of draws for the home team this season, this one being their fourth without a win.
Sunday
Minnesota Thunder 1-1 MN Bliss FC
Thankfully a short road trip for Bliss as they drove up to Eden Prairie for an indoor breakfast meeting with Thunder. The hosts explained to us why the game had been rescheduled:
Given the forecasted extreme heat conditions we decided to move the game indoors at Winter Park to provide a safer environment for players, staff and fans. The earlier KO is a result of field availability.
With all that said, the match finished 1-1, North Dakota State’s Loretta Wacek putting Bliss ahead in the 5th minute and Minnesota Golden Gopher Grace Estby equalizing only 5 minutes later. Perhaps it was inevitable that after a couple of late-ish wins, Thunder would drop points somewhere along the line.
Salvo Soccer Club 3-0 Joy Athletic Club
Even in a league like WPSL where re-entry is unlimited, hydration breaks punctuated a night where the heat index went into the triple digits. An intricate goal in the first 10 minutes by South Dakota State Jackrabbit Katelyn Buelke was the only score going into half time, and it took until just short of the hour mark before Illinois State Redbird Maggie Dowling lifted a shot from the top of the area into the roof of the net to make it 2-0. Another blast into the top corner from the top of the box with the last kick of the game by Minnesota Golden Gopher Avery Petty completed the win and kept Salvo on top of the division.
Now they wait to see if St Croix can win both their games in hand and pip them to a playoff spot.
Manitou FC 2-5 St Croix Legacy
Two goals from Kenzie Jacobson (St. Thomas) and singles from Tatum Trettel (also a Tommie) , Brooke Nelson (South Dakota Coyotes) and Emma Johnson carried the Legacy to a win.
Upcoming:
Minnesota Thunder are done for the season, they may still win the Land of the Lakes Division but have opted out of the playoffs. Salvo have played their last regular season game and lead the clubs who have opted-in. However, St Croix have two games in hand on both. They cannot mathematically over take Thunder, but they would still beat Salvo to the playoff berth if they win both their remaining games. We are planning on being in Mankato on Sunday to see if that happens.